Protests, Peter Dutton, press freedom and panels (solar).
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Friday Apr 5
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This week we delved into why police shouldn’t dictate what’s acceptable to protest, tallied just how much cash you’ve donated to Qantas, and explained how Australia is still on track to give $900 million to the company that built the drone that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.

Elsewhere, Crikey was courtside as former Seven staffer Taylor Auerbach gave explosive evidence in the Bruce Lehrmann/Network 10 defamation saga, and we revealed that Labor’s federal transparency taskforce is refusing to be… transparent.

Plus Charlie Lewis detailed News Corp columnists’ obsession with George Orwell.

Hope you’re enjoying your weekend.
Jack Callil Jack Callil,
Deputy editor
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We can’t allow police to dictate when protest is acceptable
CELESTE LIDDLE

Victoria Police requesting a permit-application process for protests is a completely unnecessary overreach with far-reaching implications.

Herald Sun photographer Tony Gough knocked to the ground as police shove people during an anti-trans protest and counter protest in Melbourne (Image: AAP/Michael Currie)
 
Israel’s threat to ban Al Jazeera exposes its illiberalism
PETER GRESTE

Israel is tarnishing its self-portrait as the only democracy in the Middle East.

Al Jazeera Gaza bureau chief Wael Al-Dahdouh with relatives of Palestinian cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa, killed during Israeli air strikes (Image: AAP/Haitham Imad)
 
Dutton wants to lead ‘the party of the worker’ with the help of… big business
BERNARD KEANE

Are the Liberals the party of the worker? Peter Dutton says yes... even as he tells big business to make the case for wage cuts.

Peter Dutton addresses a summit of small business owners, April 3, 2024 (Image: AAP/Bianca De Marchi)
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A comprehensive tally of the eye-watering amount of cash you’ve given Qantas
CHARLIE LEWIS

Just how much public money has the flailing national carrier received in the past few years?

(Image: Private Media)
 
Why is Australia giving $900 million to the company that helped murder Zomi Frankcom?
BERNARD KEANE

Despite Albanese's protestations about the murder of Zomi Frankcom, we're still handing $900 million to the company that helped murder her.

The Hermes 450 drone, developed by Elbit Systems (Image: YouTube/Elbit Systems)
 
Auerbach gives explosive evidence amid colourful day in court
DAANYAL SAEED

The testimony of the former Seven staffer tasked with securing an interview with Bruce Lehrmann elicited audible gasps in the court.

Former Seven staffer Taylor Auerbach leaves the Federal Court, April 4 (Image: AAP/Dean Lewins)
 
1984 reasons conservatives should stop quoting George Orwell
CHARLIE LEWIS

All Orwell references are equal, but some are more equal than others for News Corp papers lifting the writer's words for right-wing ends.

Chris Kenny, George Orwell and Janet Albrechtsen (Images: AAP/Alamy/Private Media)
 
There has never been a worse time to invest in solar panel production. But we’re wasting $1b on it
BERNARD KEANE and GLENN DYER

Why is Labor spending $1 billion to encourage solar panel production when there's already a global glut of the things?

Anthony Albanese and Minister for Climate Change Chris Bowen (Image: AAP/Dean Lewins)
 
Australia’s transparency group refuses to be… transparent
ANTON NILSSON

Exclusive: Why did a federal transparency taskforce obstruct an attempt to make government less secretive? The public isn't allowed to know.

Anthony Albanese and a voting record from the Open Government Forum (Images: AAP/Supplied)
 
‘Queen of woke’: Commentariat loses the plot over our new G-G
CHARLIE LEWIS

Samantha Mostyn helped drive the AFLW, supported the Voice and has a history in the ALP. Guess how the right took her appointment as governor-general?

New governor-general Samantha Mostyn (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
Titanic bill from Baltimore disaster might be curbed by old law from the days of sail
GLENN DYER and BERNARD KEANE

There'll be a colossal bill from the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore — but a law from the days of sailing ships might limit it.

The cargo ship Dali stuck under the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. (Image: AAP/Maryland National Guard)
 
Robotax? More like a robo-beatup that misleads readers and duds taxpayers
BERNARD KEANE

The media campaign against 'robotax' is about looking after people who haven't paid their taxes. The comparison with robodebt is offensive.

(Image: Adobe)
 
Never mind the science, News Corp has strengthened its climate denialism machine
CHRISTOPHER WARREN

Climate crisis denial can come in many forms — and Murdoch's empire has all bases covered.

Rupert Murdoch in 2023 (Image: PA via AP/Victoria Jones)